Vacuum-creating device



Aug. 9 1927.

. 1,638,465 F. v WINTERS VACUUM GREAT ING DEVICE Filed Feb. 6. 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Jzgl. 9 1512 32 16 a I 24 ,j

6 gwuentot 1 638,465; 1927' F. v. WINTERS VACUUM CREATING msvxcn Filed Feb. 6. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'fll Aug. 9, 1921. 1,638,465

F. v. WINTEIRS vAcnuM cnm'rme DEVICE Filed Feb. 6.1925 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK v. WINTERS, on NEW YO K, N. Y.

'VACUTIM-CREATING DEVICE.

Application filed February This invention relates to vacuum creating instruments, an object of which is to provide means of simplified and improved.

nature for removing the air from jars or other receptacles containing goods or commodities of perishable nature.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a vacuum creating instrument of such character that the greatest possible amount of air may be quickly andeasily removed from the vessel under operation with the expenditure of little physical effort and without the exercise of special skill.

A still further object is to provide a vacuum creating instrument characterized by structure of such nature as to minimize the opportunity of wear, breakage or derangement which has its parts so constructed and assembled as to obviate the possibility of leakage, and whichmay be manufactured and marketed at low cost.

In the drawing: I I

Fig. 1 is a-vertical sectional view taken through a vacuum'creating instrument constructed in accordance with the invention, and illustrating the parts in the position they will assume before starting the vacuum creating operation, f

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the'parts moved to vacuum creating-position,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view (the cover removed) of the improved vacuum creating instrument, and v I 1 v 3 Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of the piston and the yoke therefore removed from the device. 7

The device of the present invention is adapted particularly for kitchen use, or in connection with preserving" operations, 'as carried on in a limited manner, the herein disclosed device illustrating means whereby a single jar or containeris to beoperated upon at a time. It will be understood, however, that the inventive idea is not .necessaril restricted to suchlimiteduse, as modification of the parts and enlargements thereof may be readily resorted to in adapting the invention to operations upon a larger scale.

In carrying out the invention as herein disclosed, a supporting member 5, open at its lower end if desired, is secured in upright position upon a suitable base represented at 6. This supporting member is made of metal of proper gage, and is reduced :up-

wardly from its lower end .to provide an operative cylinder portion 7 The upper e, 1925. Serial No. 7,431.

end of the operative portion 7 is spun so as to provlde an inwardly extendlng portion terminating in an upstanding neck 8. This neck is provided at its upper extremities with an inwardly extending annular flange 9. Associated with the neck and operative portion of the cylinder 7 is a shell 10, of slightly smaller exterior dimension than the interior dimension of the cylinder parts with which itis associated, so as to provide a space 11 of uniform width between the parts 7, 8. and 9 of the cylinder. This shell thus nested within the cylinder provides an annular apron 12 disposed parallel with the wall 7 of the cylinder, and an in-turned flange 12 at its upper end co-eXtensive with the flange 9 of the cylinder. Bolts, screws or other retaining elements 13 are passed through the superimposed flanges 9-12 to secure the shell within the cylinder. By reason of the particular flange construction 9-12, a central opening 14 establishes communication between the interior of the cylinder and the space above the cylinder housed or enclosed by a removable cover or cap 15. The cap 15 is of substantially cup shape, having an interior diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the neck 8, and is provided at its open end withan out-turned lip 16 to rest upon a gasket 17 surrounding the neck and resting upon the upper shoulder or cylinder.

, A piston 18 is slidably arranged within the operative part 7 of the cylinder. This piston may be formed of any suitable ma terial, and has its upper part shaped in conformity with the interior wall of the shell 10. The lower portion of the piston on its side is shouldered at 18', which shoulder constitutes the point of engagement between the lower portion of apron 12 and the side of the piston.

The piston 18 carries sealing element 19, to maintain air tight connection between the piston and the operative portion of cylinder 7 This sealing element, in the present instance, is formed of a sheet of impervious elastic material such as rubber, one end of which is secured to the interior. of the cylinder while the opposite end is attached to-the piston. The upper end of this sealing element is confined within the space 11 between the shell 10 and the cylinder 7, and

its greater portion thus confined between the shell and cylinder.

The lower portion of the sealing sheet is extended inwardly beneath the piston and is rigidly secured thereto. To this end, the under face of the piston 18 is cut away centrally to provide a substantially coneshaped recess 20 against the walls of which the lower end of the sealing sheet 19 are seated. A cone-shaped block 21 is then fitted into the recess 20 so as to clamp the inner extremities of sealing sheet 19 firmly to the under portion of the piston. A bolt 22 passes axially through the piston and the cone member 21, and has its head seated within a recess in the upper part of the piston, and a nut 23 threaded upon the said bolt and engaged with the base of a chamber 24 intermediate the upper and lower ends of the piston, holds the bolt securely to the said piston. The lower portion of the bolt passes centrally through the cone clamping member 21, and a nut 25 on the lower protruding end of the bolt operates to firmly clamp the cone member, in its co-operating recess. The nut 25 also firmly secures a yoke member 26 across the lower end of the piston.

The yoke member 26 extends laterally across the under portion of the piston 18 as shown best in Fig. at and has its upstanding arms 27 extending upwardly and through the cylinder 5 below the operative part 7 thereof to the exterior of the said cylinder. This yoke member has its arms attached to an operating yoke 28, the inner ends of which are pivoted as at 29 to the upper ends of standard 30 mounted upon base 6. The bight portion of the operating yoke is provided with a handle 31 for convenience in operation.

The recess accommodating the head of bolt 22 may be filled with a sealing element 32, such as wax or other approved material, after the nuts on the bolt have been properly tightened.

In operating the device, the handle 31 will be raised so that the piston will be in the position as shown'in Fig. 1. The container to be operated upon is placed on top of the cylinder and rests upon the upper ends of bolts 13. This maintains the bottom of the container spaced from the upper end of the cylinder, thus permitting free passage of air beneath the said container. The cover or cap 15 is then placed over the upper end of the cylinder, forming a compartment for the container operated upon, and rests at its lower end upon the gasket 17. It will be understood that the jar or container, (not deemed necessary here to be shown) will have its cap covering the same provided with a proper vent and valve. With the parts thus positioned, the handle 31 is grasped and moved downwardly, which causes piston 18 to descend. This movement increases the area within the sealing chamber formed by the cylinder, whereby the air pressure is equalized beneath the cap 15 and in the container housed thereby. This action continues throughout downward movement of the piston, whereby substantially all air within the jar or container is removed.

By reason of the particular construction and assemblage of the piston, shell and cylinder, no leakage of air can occur between these parts,.and a minimum of strain or pressure is exerted upon sealing element 19. As before stated, the greater part of the upper extremity of this sealing element is anchored in air tight connection between the shell and the adjacent portions of the cylinder 7. The lower portion of the sealing sheet folds around the rounded lower end of the piston and is anchored in the lower surface thereof by the wedge block 21. By reason of the broad surface constituting the anchoring spaces at both the upper and lower ends of the sealing sheet, anchorage is obtained without subjecting the sheet to undue strains. The elasticity of the sheet 19 permits of expansion and contraction incident to operations of the piston, and the special shape and construction of the piston affords a solid backing for the sealing sheet in all movements of the piston. It will be observed with reference particularly to Fig. 2, that the sealing element 19 is supported by the side walls of the piston when the latter has been moved to operative position, and at no time will air pressure be enabled to operate upon the sealing sheet free of a rigid backing. As the piston ascends, the beveled lower edge of the apron 12'" will insert itself between the piston and the sealing element, as will be understood.

Should it be desired or required to provide a greater degree of travel for the piston, it is but necessary that the apron 12 be extended in downward direction, the piston increased in depth, and the shoulder .18 lowered correspondingly.

' It will be understood that variationsm the details of. construction and the assemblage of parts may be liberally resorted to if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

1Having thus described my invention, I c aim:

1. In a vacuum creating instrument, a cyling sheet secured at one end by the said shell and cylinder, and a wedge member for securing the opposite end of said sheet to said 'PIStOIl.

other end secured between said cylinder and shell.

4. In a vacuum creating instrument, a cylinder, a shell arranged within and s aced from the interior wall of said cylin er, a piston slidable within said shell, a sealing element secured by said shell at one end and to said piston at its opposite end, a yoke member secured to said piston and having its arms protruding from said cylinder, and an operating yoke connected to said arms.

5. In a vacuum creating instrument, a support having a cylindrical upper portion, a shell arranged within and spaced from said cylindrical portion, a piston slidable within said shell, and a sealing element secured by the said shell at one end and to said piston at its opposite end.

6.v In a vacuum creatlng instrument, a supporting member having a cylindrical upper portion, a shell arranged wlthin said cylindrical portion, a piston slidable within said shell, and a sealing element having one end engaged by said member and said shell and its other end secured to said piston.

' In testimony whereof I hereby sign my name.

FREDERICK V. WINTERS. 

